Trump Tries to Calm Elon Storm, Says He Wants Musk to “Thrive Like Never Before”
In a characteristically emphatic post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump addressed the recent rift with Elon Musk, clarifying that he harbors no ill will toward the billionaire or his companies. “I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE,” he wrote. “In fact, THRIVE like never before!”
The statement follows a week of headlines speculating whether Trump, frustrated by Musk’s public criticism of his tax and domestic policy bill, might retaliate by pulling federal support for Tesla or SpaceX. The rumors took on a life of their own—amplified in part by tech blogs and political commentators—fueling concerns among investors that Washington could weaponize subsidies.
“I’m not trying to destroy Elon’s companies”
In his post, Trump dismissed those suggestions outright.
“Everyone is stating that I will destroy Elon’s companies by taking away some, if not all, of the large scale subsidies he receives from the U.S. Government. This is not so!” he wrote, insisting that the stronger American businesses become, the better the nation performs overall.
It’s a notable softening of tone, considering that just last month, Trump reportedly fumed privately about Musk’s remarks calling the administration’s economic package “bloated” and “anti-innovation” (source). The $1.2 trillion bill includes sweeping tax changes and scaled-back clean energy incentives—moves that some in Silicon Valley interpret as a shift away from tech-friendly policies.
A symbiotic relationship—however fraught
Tesla and SpaceX have long benefited from federal contracts and incentives. Tesla alone received an estimated $3.5 billion in government support from 2010–2023, according to data compiled by Good Jobs First. And SpaceX has major contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense. So when Musk publicly breaks ranks with the White House, the fallout isn’t just political theater—it has real policy and market implications.
To be honest, this isn’t the first time Trump and Musk have butted heads. They’ve had an on-again, off-again dynamic since at least 2017, when Musk briefly served on Trump’s business advisory council before stepping down over the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accord.
But this time feels… a little different. Musk holds more influence than ever—financially, politically, and culturally. And Trump, in his second term, appears to be walking a finer line between populist messaging and economic pragmatism.
The bottom line: co-dependence, not confrontation?
Despite the tensions, Trump’s message was clear: he wants Musk’s empire to flourish, not flounder. Whether that means policy concessions or just political posturing is less certain.
Still, it’s hard not to sense the president is aware of how delicate the balance is. In a moment when the US economy hinges heavily on tech, energy, and defense—and Musk is deeply embedded in all three—an outright feud could prove risky for both sides.
Perhaps Trump’s post wasn’t just damage control. Maybe it was a quiet admission of mutual dependence. Or maybe—like much of what he posts—it was a little bit of both.
